SHEEP. 345 



general health good, and they render their winter forage 

 ipial to their summer feed. Mudi <Train is not suited 

 .-heep. It is too ricli, and should be ^iven sparingly 



:>t to the lainhs, the old ewes or feeble sheep, or to restore 

 tin- rams alter hard service. For the above purposes, oats 

 an- ihe best ; and il' any other grain, beans or peas are given, 



ould he in small quantities. \Vhen there is a deficiency 

 of bay and roots, grain may be used with straw. But the 

 Hue!; oiiuht to be so ted us receive the same amount of nour- 

 ishment throughout every part of the year. The evenness 

 and value of the fleece depends much upon this. When the 

 amount of nutrition is great, the wool secreting organs are 

 distended, and the fibre becomes enlarged; when limited, 

 they necessarily contract and the fibre is small. This pro- 

 duces a want of trueness, which the experienced stapler readily 

 detects, and does not fail to estimate against the value of the 

 fleece. Sheep ought to have a full supply of salt, and if 

 accessible, sulphur, ashes, tar and clay would frequently 

 be nibbled by them when their stomach required either. Pine 

 or hemlock boughs are a good substitute for tar, and afford a 

 most healthful change in the winter-food of sheep. Entire 

 eleanliness and dryness are also essential to the health of the 

 flock. The smaller sizes of the Saxon may be well sustained 

 on two pounds of hay, but larger sheep will consume from 

 three and a half to four, or even five pounds per day. Sheep 

 like all other animals when exposed to cold, will consume 

 much more than if well protected, or than during a warmer 

 season. 



The care of the ewes wi'Ji young, is an important consider. 

 at ion, as the lamb is sometimes the only prolit. yielded by the 

 flock, for when fodder is high or wool low, the fleece will 

 barely pay for the food and attention. Pregnant ewes 

 require the same food as at all other times, but caution is 

 necessary to prevent injury or abortion, which is often the 

 result of excessive fat, feebleness or disease. The first may 

 be remedied by blood-letting and spare diet, and both the last 

 by restored health and generous fo< d. Sudden fright, as from 

 dogs or strange objects ; long or severe journeys ; great exer- 

 tions ; unwholesome food ; blows in the region of the foetus, 

 and some othet cau$ea produce abortion. 



Yeaning. Most flocks are timed into the pasture before 



yeaning time, and the ewe is then left to nature, which is a 



good practice if she is healthy and the weather good. But 



a larger number of lambs will be reared by a careful over- 



O* 



